I grew up in Palos Verdes close by where my mom grew up. My grandparents had moved to Rolling Hills in the ’40s, my grandfather went to Poly HS in Long Beach and his father had had a Pharmacy in Long Beach so I’m 4th generation Los Angeles/South Bay going all the way back to the ’20s/’30s. My father had moved out here from the east coast to train in rowing for the ’68 Olympics – the training was being held at Marine Stadium in Long Beach. That’s when my parents met, on a blind date! I am the youngest of 5 with 4 older sisters and my parents hadn’t planned on having me. Almost everyone in our family played sports – soccer, volleyball, but no one else rowed except for my dad and he was actually a runner for 20 years as well. South Bay, on the strand, and on my bike every weekend were some of my best and earliest childhood memories. It took me awhile to get serious about rowing and my dad used to bribe me with food to row. He would say to me, “If you row around the island in Naples, we’ll get you a Tommy’s chili cheese burger.” I started rowing in HS b/c I wasn’t getting played by my baseball and soccer coaches. I learned to love it and actually got pretty good really quickly. I got a scholarship to Cal Berkeley but just barely.
About Jack Nunn
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My mother was a teacher, my father was an Olympic rower and coach. He won a Bronze medal in the Mexico City Olympics in the double and then he was an Olympic coach in the ’76 Olympics in Montreal. He’s 1 of only 8 Olympic medalists since 1968 that have won a medal in sculling. I have 4 older sisters who are all pretty close.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I got into the fitness industry primarily because of my national team status – right out of college I won a silver medal in the World Championship in 2001 in Austria, I was on the U.S. national team rowing from 2001 – 2004. I just barely missed the Olympics around that time. I moved home and I got letters from numerous companies about these companies sponsoring Olympic athletes to work for them. I took 24 Hr. Fitness up on the offer and worked for them for awhile before creating Roworx in 2008 and I’ve done it ever since! I also coached for a couple years for Loyola Marymount’s team. 2008 is also the year I started getting in to triathlons. I was a little crazy back then because I only did one sprint triathlon before doing a full fledged Ironman event. Usually you would work really hard to work up to one of these events. What I love most about all of this – training/coaching I love changing people’s lives, not to be cheesy but helping people and also being a spokesperson for a sport that has given me so many opportunities. Not only did it bring me and my dad so much closer together, it kept me out of trouble, and it has allowed me to travel around the world, meet people that helped pivot me into triathlons, and create my own identity. I also love showing people that you don’t have to be a certain body type to be able to do various sports, etc.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
I believe that actions speak louder than words and it seems like a lot of the younger generation believe that words are more important. Anyone can talk about anything, but what can you show me. Additionally, be patient, be present, enjoy the process, the journey is the award.
Jack Nunn & Our Community
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
The Kettle, it’s an iconic institution. I grew up going there since high school and to me it’s just quintessential Manhattan Beach.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in the South Bay my whole life but I’ve been in Manhattan Beach for over 20 years.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Pancho’s for sure. My parents used to go there on dates when they were younger. It’s a staple and it’s been there forever.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Family, in my memory Manhattan Beach has always been a unique, laid back, local community that valued family.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Bo Jackson, I would love to sit down with Bo Jackson and just ask him, “How the hell did you do it. What did you have to go through when you had injuries, etc.” He just seems like a well put together guy and I think we would go to The Strand House. Bo will love the views…maybe we’ll get a Fanta shot at Shellback afterwards.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Favorite book – Unbroken by Louis Zamperini. Favorite movie – Without Limits and Prefontaine.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Hahahaha…well lately…it’s kind of a party trick, but I can do the splits, and get pretty deep.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My parents, my family.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My father for sure. He was really the rock of our family.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, South Bay, and the beach.
